“Morning.”
“Morning…”
Zachary and Heather greeted the others as the sky started to brighten. Although they weren't holding hands, they stood so close to each other that there were no ambiguities. However, what surprised them was that others had also seemingly paired off during the night.
Jean-Pierre was standing close to Nellie while Carlos was with Shuhua. All of them looked at each other awkwardly. Zachary gave a questioning look to Jean-Pierre who replied with a sly smile. It was obvious what all of them had been up to.
Heather glared at Nellie and Shuhua who gave her sheepish grins. Although her own relationship with Zachary was an open secret, the other two didn’t have partners for the longest time. However, faced with the prospect of their last night in the New World, everyone had chosen to make it as memorable as possible.
Heather sighed, “Let’s not talk about it.”
“Nope,” Nellie said.
“Never,” Shuhua said.
They all tried not to laugh and set about gathering their things. After a quick breakfast of dried meat and berries, they headed out for the beach and their final trials.
The first thing Zachary noticed as they approached the beach was the four airships that hovered above their heads. They looked like misshapen black balloons. Their metal armor panels gleamed under the morning sun while the glass windows shined brightly. Now that the seagull threat had been eliminated, these flying machines could come and go without worry.
The other thing he noticed was a large open field that had been carved out of the jungle. Situated beside the cliffs, it measured roughly one hundred meters in length and about sixty or seventy meters in width. It was the size of a standard dueling field.
Zachary stopped at the edge of the field and stared across it. Most of the small trees and shrubs had been cleared out, leaving bare, uneven ground. Even the largest trees that survived for centuries were all cut down. However, these thick trunks were left on the ground where they fell, providing possible cover for summoners and summons alike. These were interesting features to an otherwise simple dueling field.
On the other side of the field, someone had built a makeshift wooden stand. Some people were already sitting. He recognized Captain Willis’ diminutive figure and her white uniform. She was conversing with a heavyset man in a suit that was perhaps two sizes too small.
Zachary squinted at them. He felt he had seen that man somewhere before. But he could recall exactly where.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
Aside from the stands, there were also several hundred marines and sailors standing around the edge of the field. Summoning competitions were a popular sport and pastime. Everyone wanted to see a good show.
As the sun rose higher, all sixteen competitors arrived. Not a single person was missing. The sky was clear. Only a few white clouds floated by here and there. A warm breeze swept over them. It was a perfect day.
Zachary looked to his left and right. The so-called frontrunners stood out from the rest with their confidence and aura. Aaron White, Casimir of the Dark Star Gang, Sergio from the Daybreakers, and Thomas Harrington…
There was also himself, he was a frontrunner as well. Zachary Zhang, mass murderer, now twenty-one years old, he was going to earn his freedom today. He had to. Nothing else mattered.
“Wander, are you ready?”
“Haha, I’ve been ready!”
“Good!”
A short wait later, Captain Willis stood up and spoke. Her voice was loud, carried across the field by her soul force.
“Everyone is here so we can get started! Sixteen prisoners, four of you will get to go home. Before we begin, I will introduce our honored guest, Associate Judge Jeremy Fletcher. He will preside over the duels today as the official witness and representative of the Republic.”
The large man stood up, waving and nodding. He had a portly face and a bad combover. However, his aura wasn’t any weaker than the captain's, an obvious expert rank summoner. The marines and sailors around him clapped dutifully. On the other side of the field, the sixteen competitors showed no reaction at all.
“Damn, it's actually him?” Zachary muttered.
“Who?” Wander asked.
“That man, Jeremy Fletcher, he was the judge that presided over my trial. It was a complete sham. I didn’t even know there was a trial until I was taken out of jail for sentencing. That was the only time I saw the courthouse and his ugly face. Then, I was thrown onto the prison ship.”
“Damn, he sounds like trouble. But big bro, remember, we can only deal with what we can control. The duels first. Then, we can worry about that judge.”
“Alright.”
The applause for Judge Fletcher ended and Captain Willis spoke again, “Each duel will be one-on-one. Summoners will start on opposite sides of the field. There are no restrictions. You may choose whatever method to defeat your opponent. If you step outside the boundaries, you automatically lose. That is also the only way to forfeit. Shouting that you surrender will not guarantee your life. Don’t expect honor from your opponent. After all, you’re just a bunch of criminals. What would you know about the honor of summoners?”
She then beckoned to someone to the side. Two sailors walked out, one bearing a large sandglass and one bearing a brass bell. They carefully placed it on a raised table for all to see.
“This is the time limit,” She said, pointing to the instrument which formed a perfect figure eight silhouette, “It lasts exactly twenty minutes. If nobody wins by the end, both of you will lose. Understand?”
Her words were met with nervous silence and a gust of wind.
“Good! Let’s get on with the first duel, Aaron and Katherine!”
Aaron and Katherine walked out and went to their respective ends of the field. Once in position, they faced each other. A distance of about eighty meters separated them. It was not far. A fast summon could cover the distance in a few breaths.
Zachary caught Katherine’s gaze. She gave him a small smile before she focused on her opponent. She didn't look nervous.
He recalled the warning she gave him. Even if she couldn’t win, he hoped that she wouldn’t get herself killed.
“Summoners ready?” The captain flipped the sandglass and struck the bell.
Dong!
“Begin!”
---
Merry Christmas!